NEW YORK—The number of deaths among New York City’s homeless decreased from approximately 190 in 2010 to about 150 in 2011, reported Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Commissioner Seth Diamond at a City Council hearing on Tuesday.
City Council renewed and made permanent legislation requiring quarterly reports on the number of homeless deaths that was set to expire this month.
“That has really helped tremendously,” said Diamond of the legislation. By learning more about the deaths, DHS has better targeted its prevention initiatives.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among the homeless, but it is also a leading cause of death in the city as a whole. DHS now requires its shelters and nonprofit contractors to meet healthier nutritional guidelines.
